Ideal Freshwater Aquarium Plants
For all
aquarists, freshwater aquarium plants are an essential part of your tank, and
not just because they make it look nice and give your shrimp and fish a good
place to hide. Live aquarium plants also do some very important work – they
keep the tank clean, oxygenate the water, and maintain the correct pH balance
in the water.
If you’ve never looked at a planted tank before, you’d
probably be surprised at just how vibrant and lively the aquarium seems to be.
You need
plants in your aquarium, but which live aquarium plants do you choose? Some
plants can be very difficult to care for, requiring the right degree of light
and special care to stay alive, while others can be very easy to look after.
Simply plant them in the tank and forget all about them.
So let’s take a look at some of the most common freshwater aquarium plants and see what we need to do to care for them.
So let’s take a look at some of the most common freshwater aquarium plants and see what we need to do to care for them.
1. Java Moss
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Java Moss |
Moss provides a natural, aging look and can give life to a
bare and plain tank.
Java
moss is relatively easy to install, grow and maintain and it’s almost
impossible to kill it. It will attach itself to many different surfaces
including gravel, driftwood, rocks and commercial decorations. It’s a delicate
moss which has irregular small branched stems. The stems are covered in tiny,
2mm long oval-shaped leaves which overlap.
Java moss that
grows under water has bright green leaves that are much smaller than the leaves
that grow on land.
2 .Java Fern
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Java Fern |
Similar to
Java moss, the Java fern is another freshwater aquarium plant that is popular
with shrimp.
The
Java Fern, scientifically known as Microsorum pteropus, is a very
popular live aquarium plant from South East Asia that is
available in many varieties. The most popular are the lance leaf, needle leaf,
narrow leaf, or Windelov.
This plant is one of the easiest to grow in most tanks
and will quickly spread like a weed if kept in good conditions. Of course,
moving it around and/or replanting it will slow the growth process for a while,
but in a few weeks it should be back in shape and reach over a foot tall and 6
inches wide.
3.
Anubias & Anubias Nana
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Anubinas & Anubinas Nana |
These
freshwater aquarium plants are probably the most common plants for aquarists.
Anubias
barteri var. nana is a small, attractive plant which thrives in all conditions.
It originates from Cameroon and will reach 5-10 cm height. The rhizome will be
10-15 cm or more. It grows slowly, and the leaves survive for several years,
giving slow-growing algae the chance to become established. The best result is
achieved by planting on a stone or tree root. Fishing line can be used to
attach the plant until it gains a hold. If planted on the bottom the rhizome
must not be covered because it tends to rot. It flowers frequently under water.
It is not eaten by herbivorous fish.
4. Cryptocorynes
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Cryptocorynes |
Most
cryptocorynes can be grown simply in potting soil. One of my blackwater
mixes uses a 1:1 ratio of coarse river sand and potting mix. For
some of the clearwater species I use a 2:1 sand/gravel and potting mix. I
either make my own potting mix or buy Miracle Gro with the slow release
fertilizer in it. If I make my own potting mix I add some slow release granules
in a balanced 10-10-10 formula. There are clear water streams and there
are blackwater streams where cryptocorynes are found and I mix my substrate
accordingly to better suit their growing requirements.
5. Dwarf Lilies
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Dwarf lilies |
Lilies and lily-like plants can grow quickly when provided
optimal conditions. In general, these plants will benefit from the use of
strong lighting and supplemental dissolved carbon dioxide. Aquarium lilies and
lily-like plants will reward the hobbyist with noticeably larger leaves soon
after these essential improvements have been made.
6. Vallisneria
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Vallisneria |
Due to the
heights it can reach, Vallisneria is mostly a background plant and can be
placed at the back of to the sides of your aquarium. Planting is pretty
straightforward: just stick your Vallisneria into the substrate and, if it
already has extensive root systems, be sure to cover those as well without
burying them completely. Extra iron is really appreciated by this plant and you
may want to stick a few root
tabs in the substrate
nearby while planting.
7. water wisteria
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water wisteria |
The Wisteria, also known as the Water
Wisteria, is an undemanding, extremely attractive aquarium plant. The lace-like
leaves vary in appearance under different conditions. If the water is colder,
they will be small, and lobed in appearance, instead of pinnate. If
insufficient light is provided, they will only be slightly pinnate.
The Wisteria is an excellent plant for
the new aquarist or for the newly set-up aquarium. It requires a nutrient-rich
substrate, with iron-rich fertilizer added regularly. Provide a moderate amount
of lighting of at least 2 to 3 watts per gallon of full spectrum (5000-7000K)
light. CO2 fertilization is also recommended.
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